Back From France...the rest of the chateau

It's time to leave the chateau, but I must share some final parting shots

My favorite bathroom in a visual sense, was this one that I saw posted on Sharon Santoni's wonderful blog My French Country Home

Her photo came from the Mires Paris website, and as soon as I saw it I recognized it from the La Verrerie website.  But you'll notice that the towels are not rolled up in the urn. I mentioned that to Bruno, and he seemed surprised that I would notice that.  But not half as surprised as the Brothers,  who looked at each other as if to say "Who IS this woman, and how does she notice this stuff?"

But seriously, I missed seeing those rolled up towels!

The bedroom that goes with this bathroom is the Yellow room

the dream kitchen

Look at the size of those two chandeliers...

and that's a Lacanche under that hood...

a peacock in the morning room




But as splendid as the inside of the chateau is, it's the neighboring outbuildings that captured my heart.  Arranged like a petit hameau, such as one would find at Versailles, each barn, cottage, stable and folly was...well, if not decorated, then at least "arranged" in the most fascinating way, with artful vignettes to be peered at through the windows.  Like this view

of the workshop


or this view through the window

of this sweet little unoccupied cottage called "la petite verrerie"

...little hidden corners...

Amuse Bouches with Bruno and the boys...

And then there's the potager...

...but I must stop.  I feel I'm being a bit unfaithful to my own humble, but beautiful 

Everafter Farm. It's not a chateau, but it's a warm and cozy home.  God gave us this farm, and living here has been a joy for the last 9 years. Maybe these words say it best

Off to Boston tomorrow to visit friends, and then I'll be back with more of our trip to France!

Au Revoir, mes amies,

dawne

Mercerie Bonneterie

It appears that we've survived the winter, but with the sad events in the world, but I have not felt much like working on digital art lately.  I've been glued to the news in Japan, and spending some time on the World Vision site, appalled by all of the suffering in the world.  I really wish I were one of those artists who could create art that would make a difference, but that type of art does not come easily to me.  I do often see images taking form in my mind when I'm at prayer or even during Bible study, but I have never been able to bring those images to my work.  So I continue to make art that is "pretty'.  Art that seeks to take our minds off pain, and to hearken back to a "better time."

That's what I thought when I saw this painting by William Tarbell.  She looked like a woman who had just gone shopping for a new hat, maybe in an effort to alleviate some pain she is feeling...but her thoughts are still heavy.
The textures are from Leslie Nicole, an artist friend who lives in France, and offers fantastic textures, brushes, and tutorials on her site Photo Artists Textures
  The text I used above is part of a new group of textures called Douce France, and features old French documents that Leslie has found at the brocantes in the Loire Valley.  I know she would love to have you visit her site and sign up for the newsletter.


Note:  I just got a note from Leslie, and she has changed the name of her texture site to French Kiss Textures What a great name!!!